Fastener and method of installing same

Abstract

A fastener includes a body having deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends. The fastener further includes a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends and a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion. The corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the sleeve and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve. The bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the sleeve. The first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Pratt U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/620,296, filed on Apr. 4, 2012, and entitled “Fastener and Method of Installing Same.”

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to fasteners for assembly of two or more panels of a workpiece, and more particular to a blind fastener that forms an enlarged blind head spaced from the workpiece surface against which it comes to bear.

2. Description of the Background

Laminated composite materials are prone to crushing and delamination when subjected to extreme compressive stresses, as can occur when fastening. To avoid crushing with conventional fasteners washers and fastener components with enlarged bearing surfaces, are employed. The manufactured head of blind fasteners can also be equipped with an enlarged bearing surface but the blind heads of existing blind fasteners do not develop an enlarged blind side bearing surface until after contact with the workpiece surface. Initial contact of a bulbing sleeve with laminated composite materials can, and does, cause localized crushing which can weaken the workpiece.

A need therefore exists for a blind fastener for laminated composites and other fragile construction materials that forms an enlarged blind side bearing surface prior to contacting the workpiece surface.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener includes a body having a deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends. The fastener further includes a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends and a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion. The corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the sleeve and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve. The bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the sleeve and the first end of the body is adapted to deform inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener includes a body having a deformable first end, a second end, and a threaded passage extending at least partially through the body between the first and second ends. The fastener further includes a corebolt having first and second ends, the first end having an enlarged head, and a region of reduced diameter between the first and second ends, and a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion. The corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the corebolt in threaded engagement with the body and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve. The bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the body and the first end of the body is adapted to deform inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

According to yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener includes a body having deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends. The fastener further includes a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends, a first sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion, and a second sleeve having first and second ends. The corebolt is disposed within the first sleeve, the second sleeve, and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the second sleeve, the second end of the second sleeve disposed adjacent the first end of the first sleeve, and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve. The bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the sleeve. The first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of installing a fastener within a workpiece includes the step of providing a fastener having a sleeve disposed adjacent a first end of a corebolt and a body disposed over the corebolt and having a deformable end disposed adjacent an end of the sleeve. The method further includes the steps of placing the fastener into aligned apertures in a workpiece and rotating the corebolt while restraining the body. The method further includes the steps of causing a weakened portion formed in an end of the sleeve to bulb outwardly and deforming the deformable end of the body into a region of reduced diameter in the corebolt. The method still further includes the step of bringing a blind head against a workpiece.

Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following drawings and detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top isometric view of a first embodiment of a fastener;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the fastener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a corebolt of the fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 and depicting a cylindrical sleeve of the fastener;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a body of the fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the fastener of FIG. 1 installed within a workpiece;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10-14 depict various stages of a sequence of forming a blind head as predicted by computer simulation;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of a fastener;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the fastener of FIG. 15 during a phase of installation in minimum grip in which the blind head has been formed but not yet moved into contact with the workpiece;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 17 and showing the fastener of FIG. 15 in a minimum grip condition upon completion of installation;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 17 and showing the fastener of FIG. 15 in a maximum grip condition upon completion of installation;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of a fastener; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 21-21 of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a first embodiment of a fastener or blind bolt 10 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a generally cylindrical body 20. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the body 20 includes a passage 22 disposed through a central portion of the body 20. An inner surface 24 of a wall 26 forming the passage 22 is generally smooth. A tapered ramp 30 is disposed at a first end 32 of the body 20 and an enlarged head 34 having a wrenching portion 35 is disposed at a second end 36 of the body 20. A radial groove 38 separates the wrenching portion 35 and the enlarged head 34.

A generally cylindrical corebolt 50, as best seen in FIG. 3, is concentrically disposed within the passage 22 of the body 20. The corebolt 50 includes a threaded portion 52 at a first end 54 of the corebolt 50, a cylindrical shank 56 formed in the center of the corebolt 50, and a frangible wrenching portion 58 disposed at a second end 60 of the corebolt 50. An enlarged head 62 is positioned between the cylindrical shank 56 and the wrenching portion 58, the enlarged head 62 having a diameter greater than a diameter of the cylindrical shank 56. A region of reduced diameter in the form of a radial groove 64 having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the enlarged head 62, the wrenching portion 58, and the cylindrical shank 56 is located between the threaded portion 52 and the cylindrical shank 56, the function of which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a deformable cylindrical sleeve 70 abuts the first end 32 of body 20. The cylindrical sleeve 70 has a first end 72 that is threaded and a second end 74 that is not threaded. The second, non-threaded end 74 may include regions of varying wall thickness, such as tapers, grooves, and the like, to cause a region 80 near the second end 74 to bulb, forming an enlarged blind head, as will be discussed in detail below. As seen in FIG. 4, the region 80 includes tapered walls 82, 84 that create a weakened portion 86. While the weakened portion 86 is shown as a thinned area, the weakened portion 86 may be weakened in any fashion that would allow for bulbing of the sleeve at region 80, for example, a radial groove, one or more indentations, a thinner, flexible material, localized annealing or heat treatment, and the like.

The cylindrical sleeve 70 preferably has a diameter that creates a clearance fit with an aperture 100 in a workpiece 102 (FIGS. 8 and 9) so as to avoid damage to blind side plies 104 of laminated composite workpiece 102 during insertion of the fastener 10 into the workpiece. Similarly, the body 20 may create a clearance fit or a slight interference fit with the aperture 100 in the workpiece 102, depending on the specific application and workpiece materials.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, when assembled, the threaded first end 72 of the cylindrical sleeve 70 is disposed over the first end 54 of the corebolt 50 such that the first end 72 is in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 52 of the corebolt 50. The body 20 is also disposed over at least a central portion of the corebolt 50 with the enlarged head 62 of the corebolt 50 disposed within the enlarged head 34 of the body 20, preventing inward movement of the corebolt 50 within the body 20. A second end 74 of the cylindrical sleeve 70 is also compressed tightly against the first end 32 of body 20 so as to rotationally restrain the cylindrical sleeve 70 during the initial stages of installation. Knurls, friction enhancing coatings, or interlocking surfaces mat be used to produce this rotational restraint.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict the fastener 10 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 as the fastener 10 is installed within the workpiece 102. The fastener 10 may be installed using any installation tool known in the art. The workpiece 102 is comprised of two or more sheets, or panels, of material, or two or more structural elements. Before installation of the fastener 10 into the workpiece 102, the fastener is inserted into aligned apertures 100 of the elements of the workpiece 102 until the enlarged head 34 of the body 20 is seated against the workpiece 102. An installation tool is then used, which engages the wrenching portion 35 of the body 20 and the wrenching portion 58 of the corebolt 50. In doing so, the body 20 is rotationally restrained as the corebolt 50 is rotated. Rotation of the corebolt 50 causes the corebolt 50 to thread into the cylindrical sleeve 70, thereby compressing the region 80 of the cylindrical sleeve 70 against the first end 32 of the body 20 (see FIG. 10). In particular, the tapered walls 82, 84 move outwardly and toward one another at weakened portion 86. This compression causes the region 80 of the cylindrical sleeve 70 to bulb outwardly (see FIG. 11), forming an enlarged blind head 110. After the region 80 has bulbed, the second end of the cylindrical sleeve 70 moves onto the tapered ramp 30 of the body 20 (see FIG. 12), causing the tapered ramp 30 to deform inwardly into the radial groove 64 of the corebolt 50. This deformation of the tapered ramp 30 removes the obstruction formed by the first end 32 of the body 20 that previously restricted axial movement of the cylindrical sleeve 70 so that the cylindrical sleeve 70 can now travel along the tapered ramp 30 (see FIG. 13) and an outer surface 120 of the body 20 until the enlarged blind head 110 comes to bear against the workpiece 102 (see FIGS. 9 and 14).

As enlarged blind head 110 compresses against workpiece surface 102, the torque required to continue rotating corebolt 50 increases until the wrenching portion 58 of the corebolt 50 separates at the enlarged head 62 as suggested in FIG. 9, terminating the installation phase. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the corebolt 50 is formed to include a radial groove 65 between the wrenching portion 58 and the enlarged head 62 to facilitate separation of the wrenching portion 58. The wrenching portion 35 of the body 20 is then twisted off and broken at the radial groove 38 to produce a recess-free and substantially flush surface against the enlarged head 34 of the body 20. Optionally, the enlarged head 34 of the body 20 may be provided with recesses, as are known in the art to rotationally restrain the body 20 during installation.

While the first end 32 of the body 20 is shown as having a tapered ramp 30 and the corebolt 50 is shown as having a radial groove 64 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, any other feature or features that allow for deformation of the first end of the body 20 may be utilized in place of the tapered ramp 30 and/or radial groove 64. For example, the radial groove 64 may be replaced by an area of reduced diameter, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

An alternative embodiment of a fastener 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. The fastener 200 includes a generally cylindrical body 220 having a passage 222 disposed through a central portion of the body 220. A central portion 223 of a wall 224 forming the passage 222 is threaded. A tapered ramp 230 is disposed at the first end 226 of the body 20 and an enlarged head 234 having a wrenching portion 235 is disposed at the second end 228 of the body 20.

A generally cylindrical corebolt 250 is concentrically disposed within the passage 222 of the body 220. The corebolt 250 includes a first end 252 having an enlarged retaining member 254, a central threaded portion 256 that engages the central threaded portion 223 of the body 220, and a second end 260 that extends out of the body 220 and includes wrenching means 262. The wrenching means 262 may be a separate piece attached by press fit, with adhesives, or by staking to the second end 260 of the corebolt 250 or may be integral with the corebolt 250. The corebolt 250 also includes a region of reduced diameter in the form of an unthreaded region 263 that allows for deformation of the tapered ramp 230, as will be discussed in greater detail below. The unthreaded region 263 has a diameter less than a major diameter of the threaded portion 223. A radial notch or groove 264 is also disposed in the threaded portion 256 of the corebolt 250, as will be discussed in greater detail below.

Still referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a deformable cylindrical sleeve 270 abuts the first end 232 of body 220. The cylindrical sleeve 270 has a first end 272 that rests against a ledge 273 formed by the enlarged head 254 of the corebolt 250 and a second end 274 that may include regions of varying wall thickness, such as tapers, grooves, and the like, to cause a region 280 near the second end 274 to bulb, forming an enlarged blind head, as will be discussed in detail below. The region 280 is similar to the region 80 shown in FIG. 4.

The cylindrical sleeve 270 preferably has a diameter that creates a clearance fit with an aperture 100 in a workpiece 102 (see FIGS. 17-19) so as to avoid damage to blind side plies 104 of a laminated composite workpiece 102 during insertion of the fastener 200 into the workpiece 102. Similarly, a diameter of the cylindrical body 220 may create a clearance fit or a slight interference fit with the aperture 100 in the workpiece 102, depending on the specific application and workpiece materials.

When the fastener 200 is assembled, the central threaded portion 223 of the body 220 threadedly engages the central threaded portion 256 of the corebolt 250 and the cylindrical sleeve 270 is disposed between the first end 226 of the body 220 and the enlarged head 254 of the corebolt 250.

FIG. 17 depicts the fastener 200 as it is being installed within the workpiece 102 and FIGS. 18 and 19 depict the fastener 200 in minimum and maximum grip conditions, respectively. During installation, as the corebolt 250 is threaded into the body 220, the retaining member 254 of the corebolt 250 pushes the cylindrical sleeve 270 toward the body 220, compressing the cylindrical sleeve 270 against the first end 226 of the body 220, causing the cylindrical sleeve 270 to bulb at region 280, as seen in FIGS. 18 and 19. As threading of the corebolt 250 into the body 220 continues, the tapered ramp 230 of the body 220 deforms inwardly into the unthreaded region 263 of the corebolt 250 due to pressure exerted by the cylindrical sleeve 270 on the body 220, allowing the cylindrical sleeve 270 to advance toward the workpiece 102, forming a blind head 300. Upon clamping of the workpiece 102 by the cylindrical sleeve 270, an increase in applied torque causes the wrenching means 262 of the corebolt 250 to sever from the rest of the corebolt 250 at the groove 264. The optional wrenching means 235 on the enlarged head 234 may then be removed from the body 220 by twisting. Depending on the thickness of the workpiece 102, the fastener 220 may be installed in a minimum grip condition, as seen in FIG. 18, or a maximum grip condition, as seen in FIG. 19.

A variation of the fastener 10 of FIGS. 1-7 is depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. The fastener 10 of FIGS. 20 and 21 is similar to the fastener 10 of FIGS. 1-7 and, thus, similar reference numbers will be utilized and only the differences will be described. In particular, the fastener 10 of FIGS. 20 and 21 includes a shortened sleeve 70 with features similar to that described in relation to the sleeve 70 of FIGS. 1-7, except that the passage 71 is unthreaded. A second sleeve 300 is disposed adjacent the first end 72 of the sleeve 70 and includes an inner threaded passage 302 in threaded engagement with the first end 54 of the corebolt 50. The fastener 10 having two sleeves 70, 300 functions in the same manner as described with respect to FIGS. 8-14.

Any of the embodiments described herein may be modified to include any of the structures or methodologies disclosed in connection with other embodiments.

Further, although directional terminology, such as front, back, upper, lower, etc. may be used throughout the present specification, it should be understood that such terms are not limiting and are only utilized herein to convey the orientation of different elements with respect to one another.

Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved.

Claims

1. A fastener comprising:

a body having a deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends;

a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends; and

a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion;

wherein the corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the sleeve and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve; and

wherein the bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the sleeve;

wherein the first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the region of reduced diameter disposed in the corebolt is formed by a radial groove.

3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the bulbing portion is formed by:

a first tapered wall that tapers inwardly from the second end of the sleeve toward first end of the sleeve; and

a second tapered wall that tapers outwardly from an end of the first tapered wall toward the first end of the sleeve;

wherein the first and second tapered walls form a weakened portion.

4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the bulbing portion is formed by a weakened portion selected from the group consisting of: one or more radial grooves, one or more indentations, localized annealing, a heat treatment, an absence of threading, and a thin, flexible material.

5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the corebolt is threaded and the sleeve includes an inner surface that is threaded along a length thereof and wherein the threading of the sleeve engages the threading of the corebolt.

6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the corebolt includes an enlarged head at the first end thereof and the first end of the sleeve abuts the enlarged head such that, as the corebolt is threaded into the body, the enlarged head pushes the sleeve toward the body, thereby causing the sleeve to bulb at the bulbing portion.

7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the deformable first end of the body is in the form of a tapered ramp.

8. A fastener comprising:

a body having a deformable first end, a second end, and a threaded passage extending at least partially through the body between the first and second ends;

a corebolt having first and second ends, the first end having an enlarged head and a region of reduced diameter between the first and second ends; and

a sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion;

wherein the corebolt is disposed within the sleeve and the body with the corebolt in threaded engagement with the body and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the sleeve;

wherein the bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the body and the first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

9. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the region of reduced diameter disposed in the corebolt is formed by a radial groove.

10. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the deformable first end of the body is in the form of a tapered ramp.

11. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the bulbing portion is formed by:

a first tapered wall that tapers inwardly from the second end of the sleeve toward first end of the sleeve; and

a second tapered wall that tapers outwardly from an end of the first tapered wall toward the first end of the sleeve;

wherein the first and second tapered walls form a weakened portion.

12. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the first end of the sleeve is disposed adjacent the enlarged head of the corebolt and wherein the enlarged head is adapted to push the sleeve toward the body when the corebolt is threaded into the body, thereby causing the sleeve to bulb at the bulbing portion.

13. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the bulbing portion is formed by a weakened portion selected from the group consisting of: one or more radial grooves, one or more indentations, localized annealing, a heat treatment, an absence of threading, and a thin, flexible material.

14. A fastener comprising:

a body having deformable first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the body between the first and second ends;

a corebolt having first and second ends and a region of reduced diameter disposed between the first and second ends;

a first sleeve having first and second ends, the second end having a bulbing portion; and

a second sleeve having first and second ends;

wherein the corebolt is disposed within the first sleeve, the second sleeve, and the body with the first end of the corebolt in engagement with the first end of the second sleeve, the second end of the second sleeve disposed adjacent the first end of the first sleeve, and the first end of the body disposed adjacent the second end of the first sleeve;

wherein the bulbing portion is adapted to form an enlarged blind head when the corebolt is rotated in relation to the second sleeve; and

wherein the first end of the body is adapted to deform radially inwardly into the region of reduced diameter to allow movement of the blind head along the body.

15. A fastener comprising:

a body having a tapered ramp positioned at a first end of the body and an enlarged head positioned at a second end of the body and spaced apart from the first end, the body configured to include a first bolt-receiving passage extending through the body between the first and second ends;

a sleeve having a first wall section, a second wall section coupled to the first wall section, a third wall section coupled to the second wall section opposite of the first wall section, and a second bolt-receiving passage extending through the sleeve; and

a corebolt positioned to lie in the first bolt-receiving passage of the body and the second bolt-receiving passage of the sleeve;

wherein the second wall section of the sleeve is configured to flex radially outward relative to the third wall section and the first wall section is configured to flex radially inward relative to the second wall section to form an enlarged blind head when the first wall section of the sleeve is forced into engagement with the tapered ramp by the corebolt and wherein the tapered ramp is adapted to flex radially inward to allow the enlarged blind head to move along the body.

16. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the corebolt is configured to include a region of reduced diameter and the tapered ramp is adapted to flex into the region of reduced diameter to allow the enlarged blind head to move along the body.

17. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the third wall section of the sleeve is formed to include threads and the corebolt is formed to include threads positioned for engagement with the threads of the third wall section.

18. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the corebolt is formed to include an enlarged head positioned for engagement with the third wall section of the sleeve.

19. The fastener of claim 15, further comprising a sleeve mover formed to include a third bolt-receiving passageway, wherein the corebolt is positioned to lie in the third bolt-receiving passageway and engage with the sleeve mover, and wherein the sleeve mover is configured to engage with the sleeve to move the sleeve along the body.

20. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the first wall section extends in a substantially radial direction to at least partially define the enlarged blind head.

21. The fastener of claim 20, wherein the first wall section of the enlarged blind head defines a substantially planar engagement surface.